Fast Attack Interdiction Craft with Missiles Phase 2 Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy

As part of the Re-Horizon 3 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program (RAFPMP), the Philippine Navy raised a requirement for 10 new Fast Attack Interdiction Crafts with Missiles (FAIC-M) which would allow for defense and security of littorals including the tri-borders with Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as in the West Philippine Sea including the Kalayaan Island Group.

This project discusses about the upcoming Fast Attack Interdiction Craft with Missile Systems Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy, also known as the Fast Attack Interdiction Craft with Missiles (FAIC-M) Acquisition Project. This is to separate from an earlier project with the same/similar name.

The BRP Nestor Acero (PG-901), an Acero-class fast attack interdiction craft. Photo credits to the Philippine Navy.

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Project Summary:

Fast Attack Interdiction Craft with Missiles (FAIC-M) Phase 2 Acquisition Project:

Note: Edited as of 02 February 2025.

* End User: Philippine Navy (Littoral Combat Force)

* Quantity: 10 units

* Modernization Phase: Re-Horizon 3 Phase of RAFPMP,

* Project ABC: Php16,000,000,000.00 (divided into several lots)

* Acquisition Mode: TBC, most likely Government-to-Government with the Israeli Ministry of Defense

* Source of Funding: TBC

* SARO Release/s: TBC

* Winning Proponent: TBC

* Product for Delivery: TBC

* Contract Price: TBC

* Residual Amount: TBC

* First post by MaxDefense: 02 February 2025 (this post)

* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PNFAICMPhase2Acquisition

* Status: The project was added upon the reboot of Horizon 3 into Re-Horizon 3 program, to increase the number of fast attack interdiction crafts to increase overall capability and meet increased security threats. The Littoral Combat Force has raised this project for funding in FY2025 but failed to get included due to reduced Programmed Funding for the AFPMP Funds. To be determined if other means would be used to start implementing the project as soon as possible.

An Acero-class FAICM firing a Spike NLOS SSM during exercises. Photo credits to the Philippine Navy.

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Overview:

The Philippine Navy raised the requirement for a new fast patrol boat for the Littoral Combat Force, as it starts to wind down operations of its ageing fleet of Tomas Batilo-class (South Korean Chamsuri-class) fast attack crafts, which have all retired from active service since 2021.​

This resulted to the selection and acquisition of the Israeli-designed and made Shaldag Mk. V fast attack crafts from Israel Shipyards, which were acquired under the Philippine Navy’s Fast Attack Interdiction Craft with Missiles (FAIC-M) Acquisition Project as part of the 2nd List of Horizon 2 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program.​

A total of nine boats were part of the Php10 billion deal, which included arming all boats with the Rafael Typhoon Mk.30C remote controlled weapon station mounting a 30mm Mk.44 Bushmaster II autocannon as well as two Mini Typhoon RCWS mounting a 12.7mm M2 heavy machine gun.​

Four of the boats will be equipped with the Rafael Typhoon MLS-NLOS missile launcher, which allows for the ​use of the Spike-NLOS short-range surface-to-surface missiles.

The Spike NLOS missile launched from a Typhoon MLS-NLOS launcher. Credits to photo's original source.

As the Littoral Combat Force’s existing assets reaches obsolescence, it was expected that the unit will request for more assets to make sure overall availability and capability are not compromised by extended servicing times and durations of existing assets.​

With this, the Littoral Combat Force have raised a requirement to acquire additional Fast Attack Interdiction Crafts, all of which are now requested to have short-range missile capabilities.​

Based on the Approved Re-Horizon 3 Phase Acquisition Plan signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in 2024, the Philippine Navy Littoral Combat Force is requesting for funding to acquire 10 additional Fast Attack Interdiction Crafts, including weapon systems like the Rafael Typhoon, Mini Typhoon and Typhoon MLS-NLOS RCWS, ammunition and spares, as well as potentially arming the 5 other FAICs delivered under the initial batch with the Typhoon MLS-NLOS missile launchers.

The proposed budget for the project is larger than the initial batch, with Php16 billion being allocated for 10 boats, compared to Php10 billion for 9 boats back in 2020. This is to cover price increases due to inflation, as well as the local construction of the boats in the Philippine Navy's Naval Shipyard in Cavite, plus the increased number of missile systems to be acquired.

It is expected that the contracts for the fast attack interdiction craft, the weapon systems and ammunition, and potentially for the system integration will be separate from each other.

Since the Philippine Navy already operates Israel Shipyard's Shaldag Mk. V fast patrol boats, known collectively in the PN as the Acero-class fast attack interdiction craft, it only makes sense for the same design to be used for the additional units. The same is true for the weapon systems.

As of this writing, the project has not been included for funding under the Programmed Funding under the AFP Modernization Program for Fiscal Year 2025. It is not known if the project is among those included in the Unprogrammed Funding though, which will depend  on availability f additional funding from the National Government.

There is also a possibility that the Philippine Navy may opt to start the project by using its Capital Expenditure (CapEx) funding embedded in their Annual Budget as provided by the GAA for FY2025, as this only requires the 10% initial funding to start. 

Two Acero-class FAICs of the Philippine Navy during deployment. Photo credits to Philippine Navy.

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First edit and release: 02 February 2025
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource